WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – The Presidential Inauguration on Monday will mark the start of President Barack Obama’s second term and the end of White Plains resident Phillip Nobile’s 10-day presidential inauguration seminar with Quinnipiac University.

Nobile, 21, is a journalism student at Quinnipiac and one of 21 students selected to travel to Washington D.C. Jan. 12 to participate in the seminar, which connects classroom lessons with real-world experience. Students have the opportunity to interact with nationally and internationally recognized political leaders and journalists, visit embassies, executive branch and Congressional offices, media organizations like CNN and nonprofit think tanks and trade associations.

Nobile has come face-to-face with many sights in the nation’s capital, as well as political figures such as Grover Norquist, Republican pundit and president of Americans for Tax Reform.

“The election affirmed the path that I wanted to take,” said Nobile, who signed up for the seminar on the recommendation of political science professors. “Now I have this opportunity to go see first-hand Washington D.C. in action.”

The White Plains High School graduate took a political science course that followed the 2012 Presidential election day-to-day, he said. Now, Nobile said, he is excited to see the election come to fruition in person.

The college seminar, which Quinnipiac has held each year since 2001, culminates Monday with the Presidential Inauguration.

"Our students learn so much more about the issues facing the Congress and the president in 2013 when they can meet journalists and leaders in Washington during the inauguration," said Scott McLean, political science professor at Quinnipiac University. "We are also developing a stronger alumni network of our former students who are now working in D.C."

The Quinnipiac senior said he sees himself working in New York City and covering politics when he graduates.

“Hopefully this trip will help me realize what that environment entails,” he said.